13 A new gorilla troop that moved to the Zoo this summer is adjusting beautifully — to their new home and each other. Four new gorillas moved to the Detroit Zoo in August 2023. Three — Mshindi, Tulivu and Bandia — arrived from the Cincinnati Zoo, where they had lived together in a troop since 2019. The fourth, Nayembi, moved from Lincoln Park Zoo. All four were recommended to move to the Detroit Zoo by the Gorilla Species Survival Plan. Today, the foursome gets along great — but it took a lot of careful work from animal care staff to get them comfortable and acquainted with one another. Gorilla first impressions, much like that of humans, can go either way. “You can plan for the best, but be prepared for any potential issues,” says Aaron Jesue, animal care staff. “We knew Nayembi would be at a disadvantage because the other three had been together for four years and had an established bond. We needed to make sure Nayembi and the male, Mshindi, could bond quickly.” Mshindi is a “silverback,” the term for male gorillas once they reach age 12 and develop silver fur on their back and hips. As a silverback, Mshindi’s role is the troop’s leader — protecting the females and resolving any conflicts. “If Nayembi and Mshindi could form a bond, we knew he’d step in if there were any issues between her and the other girls,” Jesue says. The gorillas’ first stop after their move to the Detroit Zoo was a short quarantine in the veterinary hospital to be sure they were all healthy. During that time, the gorillas could all see each other and get used to each other. Mshindi, especially, made his presence known to Nayembi right away. FOUR GORILLAS SETTLE INTO THEIR DETROIT ZOO HOME “Behaviorally, he was ‘displaying’ towards her: showing off; showing how tough he is,” says Primate Supervisor Melissa Thueme. “Nayembi is very savvy. She has a lot of experience in gorilla behavior from growing up and interacting with brothers and sisters. She knew exactly what to do. She’d stay very calm, turn her head away slightly, signaling, ‘Yep, you’re impressive, you’re strong, you’re in charge. Are you done now?’ And then she’d come back up and try to greet him and try to sit near him.” “We didn’t see any negative interactions; just a lot of interest,” Jesue adds. By the first week of August, the gorillas were ready to move into their new habitat. Their first stop would be their indoor habitat — the Great Apes building. Once Mshindi and Nayembi were ready to share a habitat, it was time to introduce the entire troop to one another. After a period of monitoring them closely and seeing only positive interactions, all four gorillas were introduced. “At first, there was a little chasing and vocalizing among the girls,” Jesue notes. “There has to be some kind of interaction because even though the silverback is dominant, the three girls have to figure out their hierarchy within the group. Mshindi stepped in when he needed to, but from that point, things have been going really well. Nayembi is completely in the flow of what the others are doing. It’s been awesome watching them interact and mesh together so quickly.” The four quickly settled into the rhythm of life at the Detroit Zoo. They build nests to sleep in; and in the morning, they forage as zookeepers bring their morning food. After eating, the four usually nap as the zookeepers clean up and arrange their habitat for the day. The four then spend the day exploring and socializing, then enjoying another nap before supper and bedtime. “We love having this gorilla group here at the Zoo,” Thueme says. “They are fantastic to watch, and it’s been a pleasure getting to know them.”
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